The trainees of the 11th promotion of the School of Application of the Officers of Kati, (EAOK) received their diplomas, on Friday January 27, 2023, within the precincts of the said school. It was during a ceremony organized for this purpose, in the presence of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Oumar DIARRA, Chiefs of Staff and Directors of services, local administrative authorities and parents.

This promotion has 55 trainees, including 07 female staff from the various staffs and certain directorates. They all belong to the 44th promotion of the Koulikoro Interarms School. Sub-Lieutenant Manassé Dakouo of the National Guard is the top of the class with an average of 17.

This course equips young contact managers to deal with the new operating methods of armed terrorist groups such as the installation of Improvised Explosive Devices on roads, mortar fire directed against rights-of-way, complex attacks against troops in displacement among others. These officers followed, for 06 months, a technical and tactical training in 3 phases.

The first phase concerned the hardening course at the Samanko Hardening Center. Its aim was to prepare trainee officers to face the difficulties of operational engagements through content, in a high-stress environment so that they are effective against adversaries in all circumstances. The second phase was devoted to tactics, heavy and semi-heavy weapons, instruction in combat shooting, topography, communications courses and courses in International Humanitarian Law. This with an emphasis on practical exercises in the field. It ended with a summary exercise of 03 days in bivouac in the sectors of Kalifabougou and N’Tonimba. Finally, the third phase aimed to give the trainees general knowledge of the Arms and the various Directorates within the framework of inter-arms cooperation in order to share their experiences.

According to the Commander of the School of Application of Officers of Kati, Colonel Oumar TRAORE, these officers are now able to assume the functions of a section chief. He congratulated and invited the trainees to use the knowledge acquired in order to better command. Colonel TRAORE also drew the attention of the trainees to the certainly difficult situation, but to be overcome with professionalism, dedication and exemplarity in the field, especially those who will have the privilege of participating in the operations. The Commander of the EAO did not fail to salute the management and support staff of the School for the constant efforts they make to obtain these results.

The Director of Military Schools, Colonel-Major Moussa Yoro KANTE, at the start of his remarks declared that the resolution of the multifaceted security crisis in Mali requires quality human resources, well trained and able to fully play their sheet music. According to him, this ceremony marks not only the end of their training but the beginning of a new part of their career as contact leaders better equipped and better prepared to face their future responsibilities. Colonel-Major KANTE added that in accordance with the current DIAPO, these officers will be called upon to implement the knowledge acquired in the context of the fight against terrorism, the control of violence, security and assistance. He did not fail to magnify the support of the President of the Transition, Colonel Assimi GOITA for the renovation of the roof of the amphitheater and his efforts to improve the living and working conditions of the EAO.

Engaged in a dynamic of development of the military executives in order to contribute to the restructuring of the FAMa and to the reinforcement of the operational capacity of the units, the School of Application of the Officers trained since its creation in 2002 to our days, 454 trainees including 20 female staff and a Central African.

Source: MALIAN ARMED FORCES